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This month's Bitmob Writing Challenge is all about the stories behind games. Now I just need to find my Writers Guild of America card....
Bitmob is a great outlet for amateur journalists to hone their skills. What about those of us, however, who aspire to not just write about video games, but to actually write the stories for the titles themselves? This month’s challenge is for those people.
When it comes to game writing, there are pretty much three separate ways to go about it: creating a movie-style script, drawing up storyboards, or designing a flowchart. Developers will usually do all three to get the full picture of how things will play out.
The Prompt
- Using at least one of the above methods, develop an excerpt from a game. You can use an existing franchise or start from scratch. Write more than just a cut-scene.
2. Post it to the Mobfeed with the tag “Bitmob Writing Challenge” by September 30.
Excerpt Examples
- A full case from a game like Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, L.A. Noire, or Professor Layton and the Curious Village. Be sure to include puzzles, obstacles, and whatever you would typically find.
- An RPG battle like the Koopa Bros. encounter in Paper Mario.
- A rival fight from a release like Street Fighter 4 complete with in-match dialogue and different endings depending on the victor.
- A dialogue tree like those found in Mass Effect or The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, including choices that affect the outcome of a mission.
Additional Resources
If you’re still having trouble, check out this example piece I wrote up.
I'll be collecting everything next month to post in a challenge-roundup article. By participating, you increase your chances of getting your work noticed. Hopefully, this challenge will help improve your writing skills and give you some insight into writing for games. Now go and channel your inner Erik Wolpaw!
